Egg-carrier.



M. MELOTZ.

4 EGG CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1914.-

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

0/1/44, imzaa, $15

I am

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTLLLITHQ, WASHINGTON, o. c.

M. MELOTZ.

EGG CARRIER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 11, 1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

2 SHEET3-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHo7o LITHO WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIUE.

MARIE MELOTZ, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

EGG-CARRIER.

Application filed April '11, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARIE MELOTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in th county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in egg carriers, and has for its principal object to provide a carrier or container in which eggs may be conveniently packed or removed therefrom, and will protect them in a manner to prevent breakage when sent by mail or otherwise shipped.

Another object is to provide a carrier for this purpose which will be of light weight, but of strong construction, and consisting of such parts that manufacture will be economical.

The invention includes a plurality of sackholding frames of a suitable length, each being substantially rectangular, transversely considered, and consisting of a plurality of parallel partitions maintained sideby-side in spaced relation for sustaining the sacks which contain the eggs, and a hamper having a depth substantially equal to the length of the frames and provided with parallel, inwardly projecting flanges between which the frames may be held, the hamper providing, a shield or housing for the frames, the eggs being held in suspended relation by use of the sacks, between the partitions of said frames.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the frames with the sacks suspended therein and containing the eggs. Fig. 2 is an end view of a sack-holding frame, one of the recessed latches being partly raised. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a sack-holding frame. Fig. 4: is a sectional view on line 4: 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the sacks employed. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the metallic casing of the hamper to illustrate facility in its use for mounting the frames with eggs therein, together with other merchandise. Fig. 7 is a view of the casing in longitudinal section. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the hamper. Fig. 9 is a side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914:.

Serial No. 831,113.

view of the same, the cover and jacket being i in section. Fig. 10 is a side view of the hamper.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, a plurality of sackholding frames are provided, as the elongated frames 1 which, transversely considered, are substantially rectangular, each frame consisting of connected, parallelend walls 2 and partitions 2, all of uniform size and shape, each having inwardly convergent recesses a, with an enlarged terminal part a (Fig. 4.) formed to open on its top and bottom, and preferably having curved corners b.

In order that the end walls and partitions may be maintained parallel and at substantially uniform distances apart, spacing-bars -1- are employed and are secured at their ends to the end walls, sleeves 5 also being used and loosely mounted on the bars intermediate the end walls and partitions 2, and between partitions 2.

lVhile I do not wish to be limited specifically to the material to be employed, comparatively thin sheets of aluminum are preferred for the metallic parts since the particular use of the device is for sending eggs by mail, and a light weight is desired. Solder not being adapted for use in connecting the partitions 2 with bars 4, the sleeves are employed, which maintain the partitions substantially parallel.

Numerals 6 indicate sacks made of fabric or other suitable flexible material to provide at their ends the small balls or bufiers indicated at 7 each of said sacks being open between its ends to provide oppositely disposed edges 0, the length of the sacks corresponding, substantially, to the length'of frames 1. At 8 are indicated latches, each being formed with recesses cl (Figs. 2. 4:.) opening on its inner edge. They are pivoted at one of their ends, as indicated at 6, upon the inner sides of the end walls and partitions 2, outwardly of and adjacent to one of the recesses a. The end walls and.

partitions are provided with lugs or catches 9 opposite to the pivotal mounting c of the latches. As thus described, the sacks may be placed in the recesses of the endv walls and partitions of a frame with their terminal bufiers 7 projecting outwardly of the the sa end walls, and if the latches of the end walls are then swung downwardly, the outer edges thereof maybe caught by the lugs 9, and the ends of the sacks will be secured in the convergent recesses a of said end walls. The eggs 10 may then be placed in the sacks, between the partitions, and between the end walls and partitions, and after the latches of said partitions have been closed and caught by lugs 9, the eggs will be secured in the sacks and will be supported thereby in suspended relation with reference to the frame, and any chance for breakage of the will be reduced to a minimum, for the reason that the sacks at the ends of the eggs will, be compressed in recesses cl of the latches and in the enlarged parts a ,of the inwardly,convergent recesses a, said recesses cooperating to provide contracted seatings for the sacks at longitudinal intervals thereof, from ,yvhich, however, the sacks may be conveniently removed.

Th sacks have a suitable length, so that engalgement o'f the contracted parts thereof, as described, will prevent communication to t'heeggs of undue shocks or vibration directed endwise of the eggs and frame, and by referenceto Figs. 2 and at it will be seen that the rods andsleeves of the frame are so disposed that any. swinging movement of the eggs or sack, transversely of a frame which may occur, will not permit engageme it,tl1ei*eof with any metallic part of the fraine. s

From the description it will be seen that the length of the sacks is a matter of some importance, so that swinging movements of the parts thereof between the partitions will be prevented. The sacks may have any suitable width so that the eggs cannot move outwardly between edges 0 of the sacks after the latches have been closed.

While I ha ve shown a sack-holding frame pro ided with only two partitions, it is obvious that operation would be the same if additional partitions were used, an dwhile only two recesses a are shown to open on the upper and. lower ends of the partitions and end walls of the frame for holding two pairs of sacks, the number of said recesses and the widtlrof the frame may be increased, desired, and operation would be it ony being necessary that the convergent terminals of said recesses be at suflicient distances apart to, cause the eggs thus supported, to be separated ade- The latches are constructed of resilient material. a nd may ,b'emanually sprung or bent" sidewise, for the purpose of being caught-b or released from lugs 9. It will be noted that the eggs may be conveniently removed ,from the frame, the operation beto release the latches of partitionsQ. Since each sack is provided with edges 0 which extend between its ends, the eggs will be accessible for removal, the operation of opening the latches of ,the end walls not being required for this purpose; and when placing eggs in the sacks, the only latches moved are those upon partitions 2'. 1V hen it is desired to remove or replace the sacks for sanitary reasons, all of the latches may be released. 7

In order that the frames and eggs therein may be suitablyprotected when shipped. the hamper 11, substantially of square shape, is employed.,. It consists of a casing or. container 21 provided with a suitable jacket. The. bottom f of the casing is provided with inwardly projecting ridges or flanges 1:2 which intersect each. other at right angles at .the longitudinal axis of the casing, and inwardly projecting, parallel flanges 18 are secured upon theinner sides of said casing inidwaybetween its front and back, and similar flanges 13 are also secured uponthe. front and back of the easing midway between its sides, said casing being of such size and proportion that the frames, above described-may bedeposited therein with the end walls of said frames loosely mounted upon or .engagingflanges 12 of the bottom and flanges 13 of the upright walls thereof, to preventdisplacement of said frames which might be occasioned by rough usagewhen shipped;v and by .reason of the construction, other articles, as indicated at 14 and Y15 may-be carried in the hamper or container, if desired.

The casing is preferably constructed of thin sheetmetal and it should be of curved form at. its upright edges or corners as indicated at g to conform, to the curvature b of frames 1., At ii is indicated a pad which surrounds the upright walls of the casing, thereby tending to prevent vibrations or shocks frombeing communicated to its contents, and [preferably an outer layer or jacket 16 of vulcanizedfiber is employed to cover its sides and bottom and secured to the pad by rivets 17.

A... cover consisting of the metallic part 18 and a jacket 19, preferably. of vulcanized fiber, is employed for excluding moisture or dust. The cover may be removably secured upon the casing by any suitable means, a strap 20 being shown for this purpose and provided with a handleZO.

The height of the casing vis .so proportioned that the balls of fabric; or buffers 7 at the ends of the frameswill engage the bottom and cover to thereby prevent injury to the eggs from concussion or shocks, during shipment. v s

VlZhile I have explained the construction of the container in detail, I do not wish to be understood limiting myself in this respect. It obyious-that the. fi3 s .r quire a housing or protection of some kind consist of thin plates and are alike in form and size, they may be conveniently and,

economically constructed, and since they are of the same form, the series of recesses a which open on the outer edges of the plates, when the parts of a frame are assembled, will be disposed in alinement.

Having fully described the several parts of the invention, a further explanation relating to operation is not necessary.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. An egg carrier, comprising, in combination with a container provided with interiorly projecting flanges, a plurality of frames adapted to engage said flanges for a removable mounting in said container, each frame consisting of a plurality of substantially rectangular plates provided with inwardly convergent recesses, a plurality of rods traversing the plates for connecting them side-by-side, members interposed between said plates and carried by said rods for sustaining the plates in spaced relation, a plurality of elongated sacks disposed in said recesses to provide holders for the eggs between the plates, each of said sacks having opposed edges defining an opening extending its entire length, and a latch mounted on each plate for making engagement with the sacks in said recesses.

2. An egg carrier comprising, in combination with a container, a plurality of frames adapted to be removably mounted in the container, each frame consisting of a pair of end plates, intermediate plates, said plates being provided with lugs and having recesses opening on their edges, a plurality of rods traversing the intermediate plates and connected with the end plates, members interposed between the plates and circumscribing the rods for maintaining said plates substantially parallel side by side in spaced relation, a plurality of elongated sacks, each having opposed edges extending approximately its entire length, said sacks being adapted to be disposed in said recesses to provide holders therebetween for the eggs, and a latch mounted on each plate adapted to have an inward swinging movement for engaging a lug to prevent removal of the sacks from said recesses, and adapted to have an outward swinging movement for permitting removal of the sacks from said recesses. Y

3. An egg carrier comprising, in combination with a container, a plurality of frames adapted to be removably mounted in the container, each frame consisting of a plurality of substantially rectangular plates provided with inwardly convergent recesses opening on two opposed edges, substantially parallelrods traversing said plates for holding them in connected relation with their recesses in alinement, sleeves loosely mounted 011 the rods for dlsposing the plates 1n spaced relation longitudinally of the rods,

a plurality of elongated sacks disposed in said recesses to provide holders for the eggs between the plates, each of said sacks having opposed edges defining an opening extending its entire length, and a latch pivotally mounted on each plate for making, in alternation, engagement and disengagement with the sacks in said recesses.

4. In an egg carrier, the combination of a container, a plurality of frames adapted to be removably mounted therein, each frame consisting of a plurality of plates provided with lugs and recesses, members traversing the plates for holding them in connected relation, members interposed between the plates for maintaining them in spaced relation, a plurality of sacks disposed in said recesses to provide holders for the eggs between the plates, each of said sacks being provided at its ends with buffer-members disposed outwardly of the frame and having opposed edges defining an opening extending between said buffer members, latches provided with recesses, each latch being adapted to have a swinging movement for engaging the lug of a plate, its recess engaging a sack in a recess of a plate.

5. In an egg carrier, the combination of a container, a plurality of frames adapted to be removably mounted therein, each frame consisting of a pair of end plates and intermediate plates, each plate being provided with recesses, a plurality of rods carried by the end plates and traversing the intermediate plates, sleeves disposed between said plates and carried by said rods, a plurality of sacks each having opposed edges extending between its ends, said sacks being adapted to be disposed in said recesses to provide holders therebetween for the eggs, latches provided with recesses mounted on said plates and adapted to have swinging movements inwardly thereof for engaging the sacks in said recesses and adapted to have outward swinging movements for disengagement with said sacks.

6. In an egg carrier, the combination of a container, a plurality of frames adapted to be removably mounted therein, each frame consisting of a plurality of plates provided with recesses opening on two opposed edges, substantially parallel rods traversing said plates for holding them in connected relation 

